Since it was already so late, the people in the Hokage Office did not talk much. Once they understood the situation, the matter was considered settled, and Uzumaki Mito led them out.
Namikaze Minato was slung over Nawaki's shoulder and taken back to the Senju compound to spend the night. Hyuga Shinichi would be back around morning anyway.
After watching them leave, Sarutobi Hiruzen leaned back in his chair again, took out his pipe, and began puffing away. He sat there quietly, lost in thought.
In truth, the moment he learned that Cloud Ninja had abducted Uzumaki Kushina, Sarutobi Hiruzen had developed a headache.
Konoha had only just ended its war not long ago. Could Kumogakure really be stepping forward to stir up trouble now?
"Ah, forget it. No use overthinking it. I should go back and sleep. I haven't had a good night's rest these past few days."
As he spoke, he extinguished his pipe, slowly rose to his feet, stretched, and worked his slightly stiff limbs before preparing to leave the Hokage Office.
Before turning off the lights, Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze fell upon the photographs of the First and Second Hokage on the wall.
He silently watched them, though no one knew what he was thinking.
As the lights went out, the entire office sank into darkness. Only those two photographs remained hanging quietly on the wall. Then, a murmur sounded from within the dark.
"Teacher Tobirama, do you think my ideals are really suited for being Hokage?"
Near noon, the Eye-Nose-Ear Team escorted Dan Katō back to Konoha from the border of the Land of Fire.
Having returned from a mission only to head straight for the border as reinforcements, the three people and one dog of the Eye-Nose-Ear Team had gone practically an entire day